"arranges" his toys

[1dogyear]

This is my first post. And it isn't a problem but I can't call it a trick because he doesn't do it on command. And I only see the end result, never the process (usually during the night).

Tanner, my apparently well-adjusted 3-year old cocker sometimes "arranges" his toys (mostly stuffed animals that he has chewed and de-stuffed). First came lines: 5 or 6 toys evenly spaced in a row. Than arcs: similar, but with a curve.

But what really blew me away was the "triples" which he's only done once so far. He made 2 sets like this: toy, ball, toy; toy, ball, toy.
Later in the day, he took one of the balls out to play with it.
He only has the two, so he got another toy and put it in the
arrangement in place of the ball.

I have talked to his vet, his trainer and other dog owners. Nobody has ever
heard of such a thing. I doubt Tanner is one of a kind, but apparently his
"creations" are not common.

It may have something to do with patterns. When he has to go outside, he
does what I call his "aria": 8-10 triple barks, 6-8 doubles and 5-6 singles, with each single higher-pitched until he exhausts his range. (He's a loud
barker, so I try to say "okay" right at the beginning and sometimes that
will short-circuit the aria.

Yesterday, I piled his toys into a shallow cardboard box; this morning, they were in a single layer; the ones that didn't fit were removed.

I'm not worried, just curious. Is Tanner autistic? Artistic? Obsessive/Compulsive? Does anyone know any dogs who do this? I would really appreciate comments.
Thanks!

[Karen]

Hee hee! He sounds like a canine neatnik!

When we left our Great Dane Gracie home for "too long" by herself, she would take all my stuffed bunnies (got one for easter every year) from my bed, carry them into the dining room, and arrange them in a circle around herself. They would keep her company when we'd been cruel and abandoned her. She never chewed them, they were none the worse for wear besides a little dog saliva and some black hairs, and it was so cute!

[signorelli21]

hhaa, thats pretty weird, lol.

my dog hides stuff all over the place, which can be bad because sometimes its something i am using like a roll of tape or whatever, she will take it while i am not looking and go hide it somewhere, lol.

[Rachel]

What fun to live with Tanner (and I love that name)! Tucker - also a cocker - loves his stuffies passionately, but no arranging them. He does like to drag a good many of them out of the toy basket and spead them around the living room floor, but that's the best he can do.

[gardengirl]

Wow, your dog sounds really interesting! As long as he doesn't do any harm, I would enjoy it. I'd also try to develop the skill into helpful and fun activities or tricks. Great dog!

[cyber-sibes]

That sounds so cute! I have no idea why he does it. my Star loves her stuffed squeakies and plays with them, but besides putting them all in a heap to sleep on top of, I've never seen her "arrange" them. This morning, she brought one in that spent the night outside and brought it a ball to play with! It seems to me that she demonstrates "imagination", where as my other dog shows no interest in toys.

[Ced]

Hi - I just read your message about your dog arranging his toys - I have a 14 yr old collie who does the same thing!

He puts biscuits in a circle/patterns and sorts the contents of his 'toy box' into groups of pigs, bunnies, a lone turtle toy by itself etc.

He's recently started taking items from the utility area and makes the same pattern with them each day - using a plastic dustpan, brushes, a small tin and some plastic cable.

Perhaps it's some sort of dog art we don't understand!

[pitc9]

Wow!! :eek:
That's so cool!

I'd LOVE to see pictures of his art work!

Neither of my pups do anything like that, they destroy most things they get their mouth on! :o

[dogfighter2111]

I must say this is something I find very interesting. This is something I have never seen before but have indeed heard about.

Must be a very smart dog!

Thanks
Mike

[borzoimom]

Borzois are notorious for not being toy lovers- however- my younger two are. Zubin searches the house for every bone, brings them back into the great room ( where I am most of the time) and goes and finds another one, and places it in the pile. When we go to bed upstairs- he will start moving the bones unless we put the gate up so he cant run up and down the stairs ( the pitter patter of humongeous feet ya know...when you are trying to go to sleep..).
YOur baby sounds smarter- there is a pattern in your dogs mind.. I think that is a cute thing !!! Trying attaching a sentence to it while she is activily doing it like " did you get your toys??".. Also- notice when she wags your tail when you say it because then she understands that sentence goes with what she is doing.. Then one day reach down and move of the toys out of line and put it in front of the line she made- say the sentence- she should put the toy back " where it belongs.." Then you know she understands this is a trick..

[sasvermont]

Wow, smart pup! Never heard of this behavior before.

Welcome to PetTalk! :D